NM National Guard chief says rules weren't followed for vet cemetery

New Mexico National Guard Chief of Staff Col. Timothy Paul said he issued the order Friday for the local National Guard unit to stop work on the Veterans Cemetery because procedures were not followed.

Paul said he and other National Guard officials will meet with city leaders and others on Friday.

In November, at the request of the city and the Veterans Cemetery committee, the 920th, a construction unit that has served in Afghanistan, started leveling and clearing the ground to make way for the cemetery located on seven acres in the northwest section of Sunset Gardens Memorial Park cemetery.

The city of Carlsbad purchased Sunset Gardens two years ago and made the land available for the proposed veterans cemetery.

"I believe that several members of the community and perhaps some members of city management arranged with the local unit there to help build a veterans cemetery, which we support a great deal," Paul said. "I believe they accomplished all or some of that mission. Unfortunately, all the required steps were not followed and needed to be done. Most of those steps are required by the state and federal government. I absolutely support the initiative and the accomplishment of it, if we are legally able to."

Paul said a great number of things have to be researched and addressed, such who owns the land, environmental concerns and permitting issues at the local, state and federal level.

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Rumors swirling in the community that there may have been some action taken by New Mexico's congressional representatives to stop the work were put to rest by Paul.

Paul said he wants to make it "crystal clear" that New Mexico's congressional delegation and local state legislators have had no involvement in the veterans' cemetery project or his decision to order work be halted by the 920th unit.

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